Murder in Indiana law constitutes the intentional killing, under circumstances defined by law, of people within or under the jurisdiction of the U.S. state of Indiana.
Indiana has four homicide statutes in total, with murder being the most serious offense. Murder is defined in Indiana as either the intentional killing of another person without justification, or causing the death of someone while committing or attempting to commit a violent felony, regardless of intent to kill (the felony murder rule).[2][3] Murder is punished by either 45 to 60 years in prison, life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, or the death penalty if at least one aggravating circumstance is proven, and that aggravating circumstance outweighs any mitigating circumstances potentially present. The aggravating circumstances that can warrant a possible death sentence in Indiana are:[4]
Murder of an officer or others working in an official capacity while the individual is on duty or in retribution for an action performed in the course of duty
A previous conviction for murder
Commission of a previous murder, even if not convicted
Murder committed while in custody, on probation, or on parole